Blaze: Team begins preparing for Rattlers
This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Posted: 1:24 PM- Having wrapped up training camp last week, the Utah Blaze have turned their full attention this week to the Arizona Rattlers, their opponent in Saturday's Arena Football League opener at EnergySolutuions Arena.

"I think everybody is ready to play," Blaze coach Danny White said after Tuesday's practice at Eccles Fieldhouse. "It has been a long preseason."

It will be a new look Arizona team that visits Utah this weekend, in more ways than one.

The Rattlers will have new uniforms that feature white jersey tops with black shoulders and teal and copper trim. They will also have only a few holdovers from last year's team, which failed to make the playoffs.

Most notably, the Rattlers have former Blaze standout Siaha Burley, whom the Blaze will undoubtedly focus on stopping this Saturday.

"If any team knows how good he is, it's us," White said.

With Sherdrick Bonner having departed for Chicago, Arizona has not named a starting quarterback yet. Former Austin quarterback Lang Campbell and former Nashville qb Jeff Smoker have battled for the top spot all camp.

White believes Campbell will get the starting not, and the Blaze have mostly prepared for the former William & Mary star this week. Last season, he completed 184 of 278 passes for 2,2279 yards and 41 touchdowns for the Wranglers.

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